New products must be better than those that came before.
Our pockets hold more than we realise. Over time, some everyday objects, carried close, become more than just tools: they turn into personal companions woven into the fabric of our daily lives. These are the things we rely on without thinking, forming small but lasting connections.
This article explores what it takes to create such a lasting object, and the journey that shapes it.
At Secrid, we aim to create products people love, ones that hopefully become such cherished possessions. It’s our way of challenging the throwaway mindset that’s been with us since the Industrial Evolution. We follow a simple principle: every new product must be better than the one before.
The Cardprotector+ is the result of 30 years of product evolution.
From Cardholder to Cardprotector+
We introduced our first cardholder, the Bodycard, in 1995. Since then, we have continually improved our products by closely monitoring their impact on people and the planet, as well as incorporating feedback from our customers and retailers.
Several years later, in 2009, we launched the original Cardprotector, which became our signature product. Today, we present the Cardprotector+, a cardholder representing three decades of product evolution.
Our new Cardprotector+, featuring a patented auto-lock mechanism, now securely holds all cards - including the increasingly popular metal cards. It has upgraded springs and newly developed, vegan internal ‘brake pads’ that provide a better and longer-lasting grip.
The Cardprotector+ also offers several visible enhancements, such as a specially fluted surface design on the aluminium case and a flush bottom enriched with a diamond pattern.
The Time It Takes
It took time to refine these features from earlier Cardprotectors. Over the years, we’ve made dozens of improvements. Many are invisible, such as optimising the spring load and internal dimensions by micrometres.
Others are more apparent and concrete - for example, the introduction of metal levers. Throughout this process, we have carefully considered every design choice, big or small.
Moreover, we thoroughly conducted tests to ensure the product meets the high standards of quality that Secrid is known for. In other words, because we’ve invested so much time and effort, we’re confident that our latest pocket-sized evolution, the Cardprotector+, will once again prove its value for years to come.
From a big-picture perspective, the Cardprotector+ is the result of 30 years of product evolution. As mentioned, it all began in 1995 with our first cardholder. Since then, countless ideas, hours of work, failures, and fresh starts have shaped its development: far too many to mention here. Instead, we’ve captured our journey for you in a timeline.
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95
THE BODYCARD: OUR FIRST CARDHOLDER
Innovation to protect bank cards In the 1990s, customers increasingly use products and services in creditcard format. This inspires us to develop the Bodycard, a plastic cardholder that protects bankcards from bending and breaking.
03
FIRST SECRID
Redesign with coins We develop a new version, as a response to the organic design of the modern phones of that year. Due to popular demand, it also has a coin compartment. This cardholder gets a new name: ‘Secrid’.
09
THE ORIGINAL CARDPROTECTOR
Focusing on the best cardholder ever From 2008 onwards, we focus all our efforts on creating ‘the best cardholder ever’. Inspired by the iPhone, we succeed by developing the original Cardprotector, featuring a high-quality, pocket-sized aluminium design with a unique slide-out mechanism.
13
PREVENTING CRASHES DUE TO CROOKED CARDS
A more flexible mechanism The Cardprotector's lever uses a stepped arm to eject cards, but curved or damaged ones can obstruct it. Our 'Flexarm' solves this by adding flexibility to a specific part of the arm, so it can smoothly adapt to the contour of curved cards.
People's work
Of course, in the end creating new products and bringing evolutions to life is all about people’s work. The successful launch of such an innovative product as the Cardprotector+ requires many Secrid colleagues from various disciplines to put their best foot forward. In short, it’s been company-wide teamwork.
However, for us, people’s work implies more than human labour. As said earlier, we develop our products with a keen eye on their impact on people, meaning our products must add something extra to daily life. More broadly, this means our products positively contribute to society. For example, since the company’s founding we have collaborated with sheltered workshops.
The Design Team At its core, Secrid remains a designers’ company. We believe that creating sustainable, high-quality products is grounded in making the right design choices. From researching a material’s carbon footprint to adjusting a product’s design to better suit the people who assemble our wallets, every detail can make a difference.
That’s why a dedicated team of design experts has worked on the Cardprotector+ for several years. They conceptualised the earliest versions and rigorously tested the final prototypes in our own lab, conducting intensive durability trials with custom-built machines and performing crash tests on concrete floors.
Everything was done to ensure the highest possible quality, so that, maybe even 30 years from now, you’ll still be carrying your good old Cardprotector+ with you.
